Practice Expertise

  • Complex Commercial Actions
  • Business Reorganization and Creditors' Rights
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Class Action Litigation

Areas of Practice

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Business Reorganization and Creditors' Rights
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Complex Commercial Actions
  • Financial Services
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Litigation
  • Patent Litigation
  • Securities and Derivatives Litigation
  • Securities Enforcement & Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
  • Structured Finance Litigation
  • Trade Secrets, Trademark, and Copyright ...
  • Trademark and Copyright Litigation
  • View More

Profile

Henry J. Ricardo is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation department. His practice includes complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy litigation and patent litigation. He has experience in all phases of litigation in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in arbitration and mediation. In recent years, Mr. Ricardo has worked for clients in fields as diverse as biotechnology, insurance, international banking, antiquities, electronics, healthcare, investments and the internet.

Representative Matters

Commercial Litigation
Representation of a New York corporation alleged to be part of a collusive scheme to seize control of a Russian oil company through bribery and force.

Representation of a venture capital fund in litigation and negotiations with a former principal.

Defense of healthcare services company in an antitrust suit based on allegations of unlawful kickbacks, which was dismissed with prejudice.

Representation of healthcare services company as plaintiff in an antitrust suit alleging conspiracy to fix prices before defendants’ merger became effective.

Representation of commodities trading subsidiary of a major German bank in a CFTC investigation involving silver trading.

Advised Swiss money managers on litigation against hedge funds based in the British Virgin Islands.

Advised US real estate subsidiary of a major Japanese life insurer concerning litigation risk from corporate structure.

First-chair counsel in AAA arbitration for NASDAQ-traded internet hosting company in a dispute arising from a major acquisition. The dispute involved claims of breach of an option agreement, breach of representations and warranties in a merger agreement, fraud in the inducement and securities fraud.

Defense of international bank in a series of cases asserting claims based upon pre-World War II German gold bonds. The damages sought exceeded $10 billion and all suits were dismissed with prejudice.

Representation of major transport company in a bondholder suit challenging a proposed spin-off transaction based on indenture provisions, the Trust Indenture Act and fraudulent conveyance statutes. The suit was dismissed as a matter of law, which was affirmed on appeal. Mr. Ricardo argued the successful appeal.

Representation of financial firm in connection with a partnership dispute involving the Mall of America.

Representation of aerospace company in connection with a dispute arising out of a private equity investment, handling mediation and negotiating a settlement before the start of formal discovery.

Defense of multiparty dispute concerning control of a NYSE company that included claims of civil conspiracy, lender liability, securities fraud and professional malpractice. The client won multiple summary judgment motions, leading to a settlement.

Bankruptcy and Insolvency Litigation
Representation of monoline insurer in Wisconsin insurance rehabilitation proceeding involving $60 billion segregated account of troubled policies and liabilities. Delivered closing argument at successful rehabilitation plan confirmation hearing. Work on this matter included winning court approval for an approximately $16 billion settlement of exposures related to credit default swaps with respect to collateralized debt obligations backed by asset-backed securities.

Representation of major energy company in a successful motion to reopen its bankruptcy case to enforce its plan confirmation order against environmental claimants, which was affirmed on appeal by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Representation of an international bank in matters relating to terminated derivatives contracts in the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy.

Representation of a member of the creditors committee in the Tribune Company bankruptcy in connection with the plan confirmation process.

Representation of international bank in an adversary proceeding alleging participation in a fraudulent high-yield investment scheme.

Representation of major life insurance company in foreclosure and bankruptcy proceedings resulting from defaulted loans secured by commercial real estate.

Representation of lender group in connection with potential fraudulent conveyance challenges to LBO transaction.

Intellectual Property Litigation
Representation of a New York juice importer in false advertising litigation under the Lanham Act and New York General Business Law.

Representation of pharmaceutical company in a successful Seventh Circuit appeal, which reversed a district court decision reopening a terminated arbitration. The Seventh Circuit decision preserved a successful arbitration award concerning the royalty rate paid for certain cancer medication.

Representation of a major Japanese electronics manufacturer in a confidential mediation of potential patent litigation with a U.S.-based competitor.

Negotiated preemptive settlement of a U.S. patent suit for a major Japanese electronics manufacturer, protecting the client’s customers from liability.

Representation of biotech company in patent suit relating to monoclonal antibody technology, leading to a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that expanded the right of patent licensees to challenge the validity of licensed patents.

Representation of biotech company in a series of litigations against a British biotech company over the scope of patents that were subject to a license agreement. This work included advice that led to the dismissal of two suits filed in England.

Defense of biotech company in New York state court action over rights to develop a new drug, involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and tortious interference.

Representation of a financial advisory firm in a successful WIPO domain name arbitration against a cyber-squatter.

Representation of foreign governmental entity in connection with negotiations over global trademark and distribution rights to a famous brand of spirits.

Representation of major healthcare company in trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings.

Pro Bono
Representation of class of welfare recipients challenging New York State's handling of certain administrative hearings.

Defense of not-for-profit housing provider in civil rights claim, obtaining dismissal of the proceeding.

Bar Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; Third Circuit; Seventh Circuit; Eighth Circuit; Tenth Circuit; Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York; District of Colorado; Western District of Wisconsin
  • New York

Education

  • Columbia Law School (J.D., 1993)
    • James Kent Scholar
    • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
  • Princeton University (A.B., 1989)

Areas of Practice

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Business Reorganization and Creditors' Rights
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Complex Commercial Actions
  • Financial Services
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Litigation
  • Patent Litigation
  • Securities and Derivatives Litigation
  • Securities Enforcement & Litigation
  • Securities Litigation
  • Structured Finance Litigation
  • Trade Secrets, Trademark, and Copyright Litigation
  • Trademark and Copyright Litigation

Blogs

Antitrust Update

Antitrust Update Blog is a source of insights, information and analysis on criminal and civil antitrust and competition-related issues. Patterson Belknap’s antitrust lawyers represent clients in antitrust litigation and counseling matters, including those related to pricing, marketing, distribution, franchising, and joint ventures and other strategic alliances. We have significant experience with government civil and criminal/cartel investigations, providing the unique perspectives of former...

Data Security Law Blog

DataSecurityLaw.com is the firm’s resource for the latest news, analysis, and thought leadership in the critical area of privacy and cybersecurity law. Patterson Belknap’s Privacy and Data Security practice provides public and private enterprises, their leadership teams and boards with comprehensive services in this critical area. Our team of experienced litigators, corporate advisors and former federal and state prosecutors advises on a broad range of privacy and data protection matters...

Misbranded

Misbranded is Patterson Belknap’s blog covering false advertising litigation—both consumer class actions and competitor suits—with a particular focus on FDA-regulated products (foods/beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements).

New York Commercial Division Decisions

The blog is a source for insights and developments related to practice in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court. This blog reviews key developments in the Commercial Division, including important decisions handed down by the Commercial Division and appellate court decisions reviewing Commercial Division decisions. The blog also covers changes and proposed changes to Commercial Division rules and practice, including revisions to the rules since January 2015. The...

NY Patent Decisions Blog

NYPatentDecisionsBlog.com is a source for the latest patent decisions from the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. The blog is authored by Patterson Belknap’s Patent Litigation practice group, whose members are highly experienced trial attorneys with extensive technical knowledge. Many have advanced scientific degrees and industry experience in fields such as communications, electrical and electro-optical technology, semiconductor technology, metallurgical...

Second Circuit Criminal Law Blog

The Second Circuit Criminal Law Blog is your place to follow the criminal law decisions rendered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. With a rich 225-year history of legendary judges like Learned Hand and Henry Friendly, the Second Circuit has long been known for writing important and thoughtful opinions on many subjects, including the criminal law. We review every published criminal law opinion handed down by the Second Circuit in order to provide you with a summary of the...

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